Tourism tax dollars used to update county recreation facilities

  • County officials, chamber of commerce members, and members of the Tourism Product Development (TPD) fund committee gathered in early April to celebrate the opening of the new tennis and pickle ball courts at the county recreation center off Tom Boyd Road. Shown opening the courts are, from left, Brandon Holloway, Richard York, Christie Gribble, Eddie O’Neal, Jamie Hensley, Jason Jones and Glenn Patterson The TPD funds are generated from the county’s hotel/motel tax.
    County officials, chamber of commerce members, and members of the Tourism Product Development (TPD) fund committee gathered in early April to celebrate the opening of the new tennis and pickle ball courts at the county recreation center off Tom Boyd Road. Shown opening the courts are, from left, Brandon Holloway, Richard York, Christie Gribble, Eddie O’Neal, Jamie Hensley, Jason Jones and Glenn Patterson The TPD funds are generated from the county’s hotel/motel tax.
  • New ADA approved playground equipment, fencing and a sidewalk were improvements added to Ron Henry Horseshoe Bend Park thanks to Tourism Product Development money, which is paid by visitors to Fannin County.
    New ADA approved playground equipment, fencing and a sidewalk were improvements added to Ron Henry Horseshoe Bend Park thanks to Tourism Product Development money, which is paid by visitors to Fannin County.
  • Pressure washing and cleanup at Tammen Park were some of the improvements made thanks to Tourism Product Development money. “These projects are providing great additions and enhancements for public use now and in the future,” Gribble said.
    Pressure washing and cleanup at Tammen Park were some of the improvements made thanks to Tourism Product Development money. “These projects are providing great additions and enhancements for public use now and in the future,” Gribble said.

    New basketball, pickleball and tennis courts at the Fannin County Recreation Center on Tom Boyd Road are the latest upgrade to several facilities as the result of Tourism Product Development (TPD) money generated by Fannin County’s hotel/motel tax.

    The courts have been available since early April and Christie Gribble, president of the Fannin County Chamber of Commerce, said they are open from 8:30 a.m. until 9:30 p.m. seven days a week.

    Gribble said 2021 was the first year the chamber managed the TPD funds for Fannin County. Other improvements created by the funds were:

    •New Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) accessible playgrounds at Ron Henry Horseshoe Bend Park and Tom Boyd park;

    •Fencing and a sidewalk to the Ron Henry Horseshoe Bend playground;

    •Pressure washing and cleanup at Tammen and Ron Henry Horseshoe Bend parks;

    •A new picnic area at the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) park off old Highway 76; and,

    •Grading and gravel for the road leading to the Swinging Bridge over the Toccoa River in Suches.

    “These projects are providing great additions and enhancements for public use now and in the future,” Gribble said.

    Fannin County Commission Chairman Jamie Hensley echoed Gribble’s comments, saying, “the things that can be done with the TPD tax money are good for everyone and Fannin County folks will see many benefits for a long time to come.”

    Gribble explained that these funds were generated by the increase in the hotel/motel tax approved by the board of commissioners last year. The total of that tax is now six percent with 41 2/3 percent going to the chamber to be used for tourism marketing, 8 and 1/3  percent of the six percent designated as TPD monies, and the remaining 50 percent of the six percent going to the county general fund.

    State law establishes the requirement that the money the chamber receives is spent on tourism marketing.

    Gribble said the TPD funds are for, “Creation or expansion of physical attractions which are available and open to the public and which improve destination appeal to visitors, support visitors’ experience, and are used by visitors.”

    “These bricks and mortar projects the TPD money pays for benefit Fannin County people,” Hensley said.